As a sophomore in the 2019 season, Dotson started all 13 games and had 27 receptions for 488 yards and five touchdowns.[8][9][10]
In the 2020 season, as a junior, Dotson was Penn State's leading receiver.[11][12] Against the Ohio State Buckeyes, Dotson recorded eight catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns.[13] Against Michigan State, Dotson became the third Big Ten player since 2000 to have a punt return touchdown and 100 receiving yards in the same game.[14] Dotson finished the 2020 season with 884 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, and was named third-team All-Big Ten for the season.[15][16]
As a senior in the 2021 season, Dotson recorded 11 receptions for 242 yards and 3 touchdowns in Penn State's win over Maryland, breaking Deon Butler's school record for receiving yards in a game.[17][18]
In December 2021, announced his intention to enter the 2022 NFL draft.[19] In May 2022, he graduated from Penn State with a degree in telecommunications.[20][21]
Dotson finished his Penn State career second in school history in both career (183) and single-season (91 in 2021) receptions, fourth in career receiving yards (2,757), second in single-season receiving yards (1,182 in 2021), and second in both career (25) and single-season (12 in 2021) touchdowns.[22]
Dotson was selected by the Washington Commanders in the first round (16th overall) of the 2022 NFL draft.[25] The team originally had the 11th selection before trading down and picking up third and fourth round picks later in the draft.[26] Dotson signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $15 million, on May 18, 2022.[27]
In Week 4, Dotson suffered a hamstring injury in the Commanders loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The injury sidelined him for five games, but he returned in Week 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles.[29] He was again named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week in Week 15 after catching four passes for 105 yards and a touchdown against the New York Giants.[30] Dotson finished his inaugural 2022 season with the Commanders with 35 receptions for 523 yards and seven touchdowns.[31]
In Week 8 of the 2023 season, against the Eagles, Dotson had eight receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown in the loss.[32] In his second year, Dotson played in all 17 games, catching 49 balls for 518 yards and four touchdowns.[33]
Philadelphia Eagles
On August 22, 2024, the Commanders traded Dotson and a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third-round pick and two seventh-round picks in the 2025 NFL draft.[34]